Systems and methods for aggregating and managing financial service accounts

ABSTRACT

The disclosed embodiments include methods and systems for providing an aggregated financial service account based on multiple private label financial accounts. In one embodiment, a process is disclosed that may include receiving a first request from a user for a first private label financial account that is usable for purchases associated with a first merchant and approving the first request for the first private label financial account. The method may also include receiving a request from the user for a second private label financial account that is usable for purchases associated with a second merchant and approving the second request for the second private label financial account. In one aspect, the method may also include generating an aggregated financial account based on the first and second private label accounts such that the aggregated financial account may be used for purchases with the first merchant or with the second merchant.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This disclosure claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 to U.S. provisionalpatent application no, 61/776,284, filed on Mar. 11, 2013, and entitled“Systems and Methods for Aggregating and Managing Financial ServiceAccounts,” which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The disclosed embodiments relate generally to account managementtechnologies and, in particular, to methods and systems for providingsocial discovery relationships.

BACKGROUND

To stay ahead of competitors, large merchants offer incentives tomotivate customers to shop at their locations, whether online or at thestore location. A common incentive used by merchants is the privatelabel credit card (e.g., store credit cards). These cards providemerchants a means to increase loyalty, target offers, track consumerpurchases, reduce card processing costs, and increase brand awareness.Consumers also benefit from using private label cards in the form ofrewards, discounts, and access to credit.

Typically, each private label credit card held by a consumer is managedindependently, meaning that every card carries separate credit exposureand credit score impact, and is billed separately. To reduce the impacton credit scores and minimize the complexities associated with separatebilling processes, consumers are motivated to carry only a relativelysmall number of private label credit cards.

SUMMARY

Consistent with the disclosure, systems and methods are provided forproviding an aggregated financial service account. In one embodiment, asystem is disclosed that may include, for example, one or more memorydevices storing software instructions. The system may also include oneor more processors configured to execute the software instructions toreceive a first request from a user for a first private label financialaccount that is usable for purchases associated with a first merchant.The one or more processors may also be configured to approve the firstrequest for the first private label financial account and receive arequest from the user for a second private label financial account thatis usable for purchases associated with a second merchant. The one ormore processors may also be configured to approve the second request forthe second private label financial account and generate an aggregatedfinancial account based on the first and second private label accountssuch that the aggregated financial account may be used for purchaseswith the first merchant or with the second merchant.

The disclosed embodiments may also include a method for providing anaggregated financial service account. The method may include, receivinga first request from a user for a first private label financial accountthat is usable for purchases associated with a first merchant. Themethod may also include approving, by the one or more processors, thefirst request for the first private label financial account, andreceiving a request from the user for a second private label financialaccount that is usable for purchases associated with a second merchant.In certain aspects, the method may further include approving, by the oneor more processors, the second request for the second private labelfinancial account, and generating, by the one or more processors, anaggregated financial account based on the first and second private labelaccounts such that the aggregated financial account may be used forpurchases with the first merchant or with the second merchant.

It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description andthe following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory onlyand are not restrictive of the disclosed embodiments, as claimed.

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute apart of this specification, illustrate disclosed embodiments and,together with the description, serve to explain the disclosedembodiments.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary system consistent with disclosedembodiments.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of one or more process flows associated withan exemplary arrangement consistent with disclosed embodiments.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart of an exemplary financial service accountapplication process, consistent with disclosed embodiments.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart of an exemplary aggregated financial serviceaccount generation process, consistent with disclosed embodiments.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of an exemplary data structure associated witha financial service account, consistent with certain disclosedembodiments.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram of another exemplary data structure associatedwith a financial service account, consistent with certain disclosedembodiments.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram of another exemplary data structure associatedwith a financial service account, consistent with certain disclosedembodiments.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram on an exemplary process associated withcertain aspects of the disclosed embodiments.

FIG. 9 shows an exemplary financial service account interface,consistent with certain disclosed embodiments.

FIG. 10 is a block diagram on an exemplary process associated withcertain aspects of the disclosed embodiments.

FIG. 11 is a block diagram on an exemplary process associated withcertain aspects of the disclosed embodiments.

FIG. 12 shows an exemplary financial service account interface,consistent with certain disclosed embodiments.

FIG. 13 shows another exemplary financial service account interface,consistent with certain disclosed embodiments.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart of an exemplary financial service accountmanaging process, consistent with disclosed embodiments.

FIG. 15 is a flowchart of an exemplary aggregated financial serviceaccount managing process, consistent with disclosed embodiments.

FIG. 16 is a flowchart of an exemplary credit checking process,consistent with disclosed embodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Reference will now be made in detail to the disclosed embodiments,examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Whereverconvenient, the same reference numbers will be used throughout thedrawings to refer to the same or like parts.

The disclosed embodiments provide an aggregation and management platformfor private label credit cards that extend the benefits of suchfinancial service products to a broader merchant base. The disclosedembodiments provide a platform that allows a consumer to carry a singlecredit exposure that is dynamically allocated to a number of privatelabel credit cards. The disclosed embodiments provide processes thatrelieve a consumer of separate credit score impacts associated withindividual cards while providing the convenience of managing only onefinancial service account. The disclosed embodiments also enablemerchants to retain the loyalty and targeting features provided byprivate label cards. The disclosed embodiments are applicable toelectronic financial service accounts, such as a digital wallet, and toplastic based financial accounts, such as a plastic credit cardphysically held and used by a consumer at point of sale locations.

Although disclosed embodiments are discussed primarily in the context ofprivate label financial accounts, other applications are contemplated.For example, disclosed embodiments may be also used with other types offinancial accounts, such as bank accounts (e.g., savings, checking,etc.), loyalty cards, and the like. For instance, aspects of thedisclosed embodiments may be used with loyalty cards provided by amerchant that offers incentives based on the number of purchases by theconsumer (e.g., buy five cups of coffee and get the sixth one free).

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an exemplary system 100 for performingone or more operations consistent with the disclosed embodiments. In oneembodiment, system 100 may include a financial service provider 110,client 120, one or more merchants 150 (exemplary merchants 150A and 150Bshown), a credit assessor 160, and network 140. The components andarrangement of the components included in system 100 may vary. Thus,system 100 may further include other components that perform or assistin the performance of one or more processes consistent with thedisclosed embodiments.

Financial service provider 110 may be an entity that provides financialservices. For example, financial service provider 110 may be a bank,credit card issuer, or other type of financial service entity thatgenerates, provides, manages, and/or maintains financial serviceaccounts for one or more users. Financial service accounts may include,for example, credit card accounts, checking accounts, savings accounts,reward accounts, and any other types of financial service account knownto those skilled in the art. Financial service accounts may beassociated with electronic accounts, such as a digital wallet or similaraccount that may be used to perform electronic transactions, such aspurchasing goods and/or services online. Financial service accounts mayalso be associated with physical financial service account cards, suchas a plastic credit or check card that a user may carry on their personand use to perform financial service transactions, such as purchasinggoods and/or services at a point of sale (POS) terminal. Financialservice provider 110 may include infrastructure and components that areconfigured to generate and provide financial service accounts andfinancial service account cards (e.g., credit cards, check cards, etc.).

In one embodiment, financial service provider 110 may include one ormore computing systems that are configured to execute softwareinstructions stored on one or more memory devices to perform one or moreoperations consistent with the disclosed embodiments. In one embodiment,financial service provider 110 may include server 111. Server 111 may beone or more computing devices configured to execute softwareinstructions stored in memory to perform one or more processesconsistent with the disclosed embodiments. For example, server 111 mayinclude one or more memory device(s) storing data and softwareinstructions and one or more processor(s) configured to use the data andexecute the software instructions to perform server-based functions andoperations known to those skilled in the art. Server 111 may also beconfigured to execute stored software instructions to perform operationsassociated with aggregating and managing multiple private labelfinancial service accounts in a manner consistent with the disclosedembodiments. In one embodiment, a private label financial account mayinclude a financial account that is provided by a specific entity (e.g.,merchants, etc.) that can be used to purchase goods and/or services fromthat entity (e.g., a merchant-based credit card usable for purchases atthat merchant's store locations (e.g., online or brick and mortarlocations). The disclosed embodiments are applicable to any type ofprivate label account, such as, for example: private label/store creditfinancial accounts, private label debit accounts, gift accounts,prepaid, and other stored value accounts (e.g., rewards/loyalty points),etc. Moreover, in certain embodiments, credit accounts may include, forexample, lines of credit, credit card accounts, promotional financingaccounts, long term financing accounts, transactional credit accounts,and installment can accounts.

Server 111 may be a general purpose computer, a mainframe computer, orany combination of these components. In certain embodiments, server 111(or a system including server 111) may be configured as a particularapparatus, system, and the like based on the storage, execution, and/orimplementation of the software instructions that perform one or moreoperations consistent with the disclosed embodiments. Server 111 may bestandalone, or it may be part of a subsystem, which may be part of alarger system. For example, server 111 may represent distributed serversthat are remotely located and communicate over a network (e.g., network140) or a dedicated network, such as a LAN, for financial serviceprovider 110.

Server 111 may include or may connect to one or more storage devicesconfigured to store data and/or software instructions used by one ormore processors of server 111 to perform operations consistent withdisclosed embodiments. For example, server 111 may include memoryconfigured to store one or more software programs that performs severalfunctions when executed by a processor. The disclosed embodiments arenot limited to separate programs or computers configured to performdedicated tasks. For example, server 111 may include memory that storesa single program or multiple programs. Additionally, server 111 mayexecute one or more programs located remotely from server 111. Forexample, server 111 may access one or more remote programs stored inmemory included with a remote component that, when executed, performoperations consistent with the disclosed embodiments. In certainaspects, server 111 may include web server software that generates,maintains, and provides web site(s) that are accessible over network140. In other aspects, financial server provider 110 may connectseparate web server(s) or similar computing devices that generate,maintain, and provide web site(s) for financial service provider 110.

Network 140 may be any type of network configured to providecommunications between components of system 100. For example, network100 may be any type of network (including infrastructure) that providescommunications, exchanges information, and/or facilitates the exchangeof information, such as the Internet, a Local Area Network, or othersuitable connection(s) that enables the sending and receiving ofinformation between the components of system 100. In other embodiments,one or more components of system 100 may communicate directly through adedicated communication link(s), such as the exemplary links betweenfinancial service provider 110 and merchants 150A and 1503.

Client 120 may be one or more computing devices that are configured toexecute software instructions for performing one or more operationsconsistent with the disclosed embodiments. Client 120 may be a desktopcomputer, a laptop, a server, a mobile device (e.g., tablet, smartphone, etc.), and any other type of computing device. Client 120 mayinclude one or more processors configured to execute softwareinstructions stored in memory, such as memory included in client 120.Client 120 may include software that when executed by a processorperforms known Internet-related communication and content displayprocesses. For instance, client 120 may execute browser software thatgenerates and displays interfaces including content on a display deviceincluded in, or connected to, client 120. The disclosed embodiments arenot limited to any particular configuration of client 120. For instance,client 120 may be a mobile device that stores and executes mobileapplications that provide financial service related functions offered byfinancial service provider 110 and/or merchants 150A, 1503, such as abanking mobile application for checking balances, paying bills, etc.

In one embodiment, a user 101 may use client 120 to perform one or moreoperations consistent with the disclosed embodiments. In one aspect,user 101 may be a customer of financial service provider 110. Forinstance, financial service provider may maintain a financial serviceaccount (e.g., credit card account) for user 101 that user 101 may useto purchase goods and/or services online or at brick and mortarlocations associated with a merchant. In other embodiments, user 101 maybe a potential customer of financial service provider 110 or may not beaffiliated with financial service provider 110 from the user'sperspective and/or the financial service provider 110's perspective.

Merchants 150A and 150B may each be an entity that provides goods and/orservices (e.g., a retail store). While FIG. 1 shows two merchants 150Aand 150B in system 100, the disclosed embodiments may be implemented ina system involving a single merchant 150 or multiple merchants (e.g.,two or more merchants). A merchant 150 may include brick and mortarlocation(s) that a consumer (e.g., user 101) may physically visit andpurchase goods and services. Such physical locations may includecomputing devices that perform financial service transactions withconsumers (e.g., POS terminal(s), kiosks, etc.). They may also includeback and/or front-end computing components that store data and executesoftware instructions to perform operations consistent with disclosedembodiments, such as computers that are operated by employees ofmerchant 150 (e.g., back office systems, etc.). In certain embodiments,merchants 150 may also include merchants that provide electronicshopping mechanisms, such as a website or similar online location thatconsumers may access using a computer (e.g., client 120) through browsersoftware or similar software.

In one embodiment, merchants 150A and 150B include server 151A and 151B,respectively. Server 151 may be one or more computing devices configuredto execute software instructions stored in memory to perform one or moreprocesses consistent with the disclosed embodiments. For example, server151 may include one or more memory device(s) storing data and softwareinstructions and one or more processor(s) configured to use the data andexecute the software instructions to perform server-based functions andoperations known to those skilled in the art. Server 151 may also beconfigured to execute stored software instructions to perform operationsassociated with merchant 150, including one or more processes associatedwith providing private label financial service accounts. Server 151 maybe a general purpose computer, a mainframe computer, or any combinationof these components. In certain embodiments, server 151 (or a systemincluding server 151) may be configured as a particular apparatus,system, and the like based on the storage, execution, and/orimplementation of the software instructions that perform one or moreoperations consistent with the disclosed embodiments. Server 151 may bestandalone, or may be part of a subsystem, which may be part of a largersystem. For example, server 151 may represent distributed servers thatare remotely located and communicate over a network (e.g., network 140)or a dedicated network, such as a LAN, for merchant 150.

In certain aspects, server 151 may include web server software thatgenerates, maintains, and provides web site(s) for a respective merchant150 that is accessible over network 140. In other aspects, merchant 150may connect separate to web server(s) or similar computing devices thatgenerate, maintain, and provide web site(s) for merchant 150. Forexample, merchant 150A may use web server(s) that provide a web sitespecific to merchant 150A, and allows user 101 to access, view, andpurchase goods and/or services from merchant 150A. Similarly, merchant150 B may use web server(s) that provide a web site specific to merchant150B and allows user 101 to access, view, and purchase goods and/orservices from merchant 150B.

In accordance with certain aspects of the disclosed embodiments,merchant 150A may offer and provide private label financial serviceaccounts (e.g., private label credit card accounts) associated withmerchant 150A and merchant 150B may offer and provide private labelfinancial service accounts (e.g., private label credit card accounts)associated with merchant 150B. In certain configurations, financialservice provider 110 may assist merchant 150A and/or merchant 150B withproviding, maintaining, offering, and managing the private labelfinancial service accounts.

Credit assessor 160 may be an entity that performs credit assessmentsfor consumers. For example, credit assessor 160 may be an entity thatprovides credit evaluation services to consumers (e.g., user 101) and/orfinancial service related entities (e.g., merchants 150 and financialservice provider 110). In one example, credit assessor 160 may be anentity that provides credit scores to a consumer (e.g., user 101) basedon the credit history for that consumer. Credit assessor 160 may alsoprovide credit assessments to financial service provider 110 forconsumers attempting to apply for financial service accounts offered byfinancial service provider 110 and/or merchants 150A and/or 150B. Creditassessor 160 may include computing components known to those skilled inthe art to provide credit check and assessment services and to provideinformation relating to the credit check and assessment services overnetwork 140, such as a web server providing a web site accessible byuser 101 or a server that communicates with server 111 and/or servers151A and/or 151B. The disclosed embodiments are not limited to anyparticular configuration of the computing components used by creditassessor 160.

As explained, the disclosed embodiments include methods and systems foraggregating and managing private label financial service accounts. FIG.2 shows a block diagram of one or more process flows associated with anexemplary arrangement consistent with disclosed embodiments. In oneaspect, user 101 may request and obtain private label financial serviceaccounts from merchants 150A and 150B. In one aspect, user 101 mayreceive physical cards (e.g., plastic credit cards) that are branded foreach merchant. For instance, user 101 may hold a financial serviceaccount 203 that is branded with merchant A that can be used by user 101to purchase goods and/or services from merchant 150A electronically(e.g., such as online shopping). Financial service account 203 mayinclude a plastic (or similar) card that can be used by user 101 topurchase goods and/or services from merchant 150A at a brick and mortarlocation of merchant 150A. Similarly, user 101 may hold a financialservice account 205 that is branded with merchant B that can be used topurchase goods and/or services from merchant 150B electronically.Financial service account 205 may also include a plastic (or similar)card that user 101 can use to purchase goods and/or services frommerchant 150B at a brick and mortar location of merchant 150B. Incertain embodiments, financial service account 203 may only be used topurchase goods and/or services from merchant 150A and financial serviceaccount 205 may only be used to purchase goods and/or services frommerchant 150B.

User 101 may also hold a general purpose financial service account withfinancial service provider 110 (in electronic and/or physical card form)that can be used to purchase goods and/or services from merchants 150Aand/or 150B or other merchants. In certain aspects, financial serviceprovider 110 is configured to perform processes for aggregating andmanaging the private label accounts provided by merchants 150A and 150B.

In other aspects of the disclosed embodiments, financial serviceprovider 110 may generate a single aggregated financial account thatencompasses private label accounts from merchant 150A and merchant 150B.For example, financial service provider 110 may be configured to executesoftware instructions (via server 111) that create and store anaggregated financial service account that can be used by user 101 onlyfor purchases associated with merchant 150A and/or merchant 150B.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart of an exemplary financial service accountapplication process consistent with certain disclosed embodiments. Inone aspect, user 101 may apply for a private label financial serviceaccount from merchant A (step 310). User 101 may apply for the merchantA private label account using client 120. For example, user 101 may useclient 120 to access an online application web page provided by merchant150A via the Internet (e.g., network 140). Alternatively, user 101 mayfill out an application for the merchant A private label account at aphysical location of merchant 150A, via, for example, a kiosk or byfilling out an application using pen and paper. For the latter, merchant150A may include infrastructure and components for converting user 101'sapplication into electronic form for subsequent processing by computingdevice(s).

The disclosed embodiments may process user 101's request for themerchant A private label account (step 320). In one embodiment, merchantchant 150A and financial service provider 110 may perform one or moreoperations associated with processing the request. For example, in oneaspect, merchant 150A (via server 151A) may generate a request for theuser 101's application and provide the request to server 111 offinancial service account provider 110. The request may be communicatedover network 140. Server 111 may be configured to process the request byperforming known credit history checks. For example, server 111 may senda request to credit assessor 160 for credit information relating to user101. Credit assessor 160 may perform processes for determining creditresults (e.g., a credit score, summary credit information, etc.) andprovide the results of such processes to financial service provider 111.

Based on user 101's credit history information (or score) received fromcredit assessor 160, financial service provider 111 may generate andprovide results for user 101's request for merchant A's private labelaccount (e.g., step 330). In one embodiment, financial service provider111 may provide the results of user 101's merchant A private labelaccount request to merchant 150A. In turn, merchant 150A may generateand provide a notification to client 120 (or directly to user 101)informing user 101 whether the request was approved. In otherembodiments, financial service provider 110 (e.g., via server 111) maygenerate and provide a notification to client 120 informing user 101whether the request was approved. In certain aspects, explained furtherbelow, financial service provider 110 (e.g., via server 111) may providethe notification with branded labels associated with merchant A. Forinstance, the notification may include information and have a look andfeel as if it came directly from merchant A (e.g., merchant A logos,text, etc.) even though the notification originated from financialservice provider 110.

In some embodiments, user 101 may also apply for a private labelfinancial service account from merchant B (step 340). User 101 may applyfor the merchant B private label account using client 120. For example,user 101 may use client 120 to access an online application web pageprovided by merchant 150B via the Internet (e.g., network 140).Alternatively, user 101 may fill out an application for the merchant Bprivate label account at a physical location of merchant 150B, via, forexample, a kiosk or by filling out an application using pen and paper.For the latter, merchant 150B may include infrastructure and componentsfor converting user 101's application into electronic form forsubsequent processing by computing device(s).

The disclosed embodiments may process user 101's request for themerchant B private label account (step 350). In one embodiment, merchant150B and financial service provider 110 may perform one or moreoperations associated with processing the request. For example, in oneaspect, merchant 150B (via server 151B) may generate a request for theuser 101's application and provide the request to server 111 offinancial service account provider 110. The request may be communicatedover network 140. Server 111 may be configured to process the request byperforming known credit history checks. In one aspect, server 111 maysend a request to credit assessor 160 for credit information relating touser 101. Credit assessor 160 may perform processes for determiningcredit results (e.g., a credit score, summary credit information, etc.)and provide the results of such processes to financial service provider111.

In other aspects, server 111 may be configured to locally process theuser 101's request to form an aggregated financial service accountconsistent with the disclosed embodiments. In these embodiments, server111 may bypass credit assessor 160 to approve user 101's request for amerchant B private label account.

In certain aspects, financial service provider 111 may generate andprovide results for user 101's request for merchant B's private labelaccount (e.g., step 360). In one embodiment, financial service provider111 may provide the results of user 101's merchant B private labelaccount request to merchant 150B. In turn, merchant 150B may generateand provide a notification to client 120 (or directly to user 101)informing user 101 whether the request was approved. In otherembodiments, financial service provider 110 (e.g., via server 111) maygenerate and provide a notification to client 120 informing user 101whether the request for the merchant B private label account wasapproved. In certain aspects, explained further below, financial serviceprovider 110 (e.g., via server 111) may provide the notification withbranded labels associated with merchant B. For instance, thenotification may include information and have a look and feel as if itcame directly from merchant B (e.g., merchant B logos, text, etc.) eventhough the notification originated from financial service provider 110.

FIG. 4 shows a flowchart of an exemplary aggregation account processconsistent with certain disclosed embodiments. In step 410, financialservice provider 110 (e.g., via server 111) may execute software thatperforms operations for creating an aggregated account based on themerchant A and merchant B private label accounts requested and approvedfor user 101. In one aspect, financial service account provider 110 maygenerate a single financial service account with separate recordsassociated with the merchant A and merchant B private label accounts.Financial service account provider 110 may generate, as one example, adata structures) that maintains sub-accounts associated with themerchant A and merchant B private label accounts.

FIG. 5 shows a block diagram of an exemplary financial service account500 including sub-accounts for the merchant A and merchant B privatelabel accounts. The configuration, parameters, and format of financialservice account 500 are exemplary and are not limiting to the disclosedembodiments. In one example, financial service account provider 110 maygenerate and store records for each merchant sub-account. Eachsub-account may be associated with one or more parameters (e.g.,parameters 305, 310, 315, 320, 325, and 330), that provide mechanismsfor use of the sub-accounts by user 101. For example, financial serviceaccount 500 may include a sub-account for merchant A private labelaccount with parameters for a credit limit (310), balance (315), paymentdue dates (320), payment amount (325), and percentage rate (330). Whenuser 101 uses its merchant A private label account to make purchaseswith merchant A (e.g., account 203 shown in FIG. 2), financial serviceprovider 110 may execute software to update and edit the parametersassociated with the sub-account associated with the merchant A privatelabel account. Similarly, when user 101 uses the merchant B privatelabel account to make purchases with merchant B, financial serviceprovider 110 may execute software to update and edit the parametersassociated with the sub-account associated with the merchant B privatelabel account.

In other embodiments, financial service provider 110 may be configuredto execute software processes for creating another form of a singleaggregated financial account for the multiple merchant private labelaccounts of user 101. FIG. 6 shows a block diagram of an exemplaryfinancial service account 600 including an aggregated account recordthat is an aggregated form of the two private label accounts formerchant A and merchant B.

In one embodiment, financial service account provider 110 may generateand store records for each merchant sub-account. Each sub-account may beassociated with one or more parameters (e.g., parameters 305, 310, 315,320, 325, and 330), that provide mechanisms for use of the sub-accountsby user 101. For example, financial service account 500 may include asub-account for merchant A private label account with parameters for acredit limit (310), balance (315), payment due dates (320), paymentamount (325) and percentage rate (330). When user 101 uses its merchantA private label account to make purchases with merchant A (e.g., account203 shown in FIG. 2), financial service provider 110 may executesoftware to update and edit the parameters associated with thesub-account associated with the merchant A private label account.Similarly, when user 101 uses the merchant B private label account tomake purchases with merchant B, financial service provider 110 mayexecute software to update and edit the parameters associated with thesub-account associated with the merchant B private label account.

The configuration, parameters, and format of financial service account600 are exemplary and are not limiting to the disclosed embodiments. Forinstance, while FIG. 6 shows the data structure for financial serviceaccount 600 including records for merchant A and merchant B, thedisclosed embodiments may include configurations where financial serviceprovider 111 (or another entity) generates a data structure forfinancial service account 600 that does not include fields or recordsfor each merchant private label account. For instance, separate datarecords may be created for each sub-account associated with a merchantprivate label account and linked to a common aggregate account, such asthat exemplified in FIG. 7. In other embodiments, financial serviceprovider 110 may not generate any sub-accounts for the merchant A and Bprivate label accounts and instead generate a single aggregated accountincluding parameters and information reflecting the two private labelmerchant accounts. The disclosed embodiments are not limited to anyparticular configuration or format of the data structures generated andstored by financial service account provider 110 (or any other entity ofsystem 100). Database formats, data types, linked fields, and otherforms of known data record management operations may be implemented bythe disclosed embodiments to create, maintain, and manage the aggregatedand private label financial service accounts disclosed herein.

Returning to FIG. 4, in certain embodiments, financial service provider110 may execute software processes that determine one or more parametersfor the aggregated account relating to private label merchant accountsof a given user (step 420). In one embodiment, financial service accountprovider 110 may determine the parameters for each sub-account for themerchant A and B private label accounts (e.g., such as the sub-accountsfor financial account 500 shown in FIG. 5). Financial service provider110 may consider one or more predetermined account parameters set forthby a given merchant 150 in offers provided to user 101 for a privatelabel account. For example, merchant 150A may provide an offer to user101 (e.g., via server 151A and client 120) that identifies one or moreof the parameters for the private label account offered by merchant 150A(e.g., percentage rate of 9%, a credit limit of $5000.00, etc.). Inother aspects, one or more of the parameters for a private labelmerchant account may not be known or provided to user 101 at the timeuser 101 applies for the private label account. In these embodiments,financial service provider 110 may execute software processes (viaserver 111) that determines the one or more parameters based on, forexample, rules or conditions set by merchants 150 (e.g., merchant 150Aand/or 150B) or by financial service provider 111.

In one embodiment, financial service provider 110 executes softwareinstructions (via server 111) that determines ines parameters for asingle aggregated financial account based on the parameters for theprivate label accounts associated with merchants 150A and 150B (and anyothers that may be included). For example, financial service provider110 may determine an aggregated account balance parameter that reflectsthe total amount user 101 may use the aggregated account for purchasinggoods and/or services from merchants 150A and 150B. In one aspect, theaccount balance parameter may be linked to the account balanceparameters for each merchant private label sub-account. Thus, forexample, financial service account provider 110 may be configured totrack and deny purchase transactions that involve purchases that exceedthe allocated balance for a given merchant. For example, financialservice account provider 110 may configure the aggregated account suchthat the balance parameter for the merchant B sub-account is checked ifuser 101 attempts to purchase goods from merchant B. Financial serviceprovider 110 may use merchant identity information provided by amerchant 150 when processing a purchase transaction by user 101 using anaggregated financial account.

Financial service account provider 110 may also set one or moreparameters for the aggregated account or merchant-specific account basedon other factors, such as merchant category information, merchantidentity, specific store locations for merchant(s) 150, geographicallocation, etc. When processing applications for any given private labelcard, financial service account provider 110 (via, for example, server111) may use any combination of these or other factors to determineeligibility for an account, or values for any of the account parametersdescribed. Similarly, financial service account provider 110 (via e.g.,server 111) may at any time modify any of these parameters based on anycombination of the aforementioned or other factors. Such modificationsmay include, but are not limited to, changes to credit lines, interestrates, billing and payment settings, etc. Financial services provider110 may also at any time terminate the extension of credit eithertemporarily for a defined or undefined time period, or permanently,based on any combination of such factors etc. In certain aspects, server111 may be configured to execute software processes that analyze theabove exemplary factors to determine whether to terminate the extensionof credit as disclosed above.

Once financial service provider 110 determines the parameters for theaggregated account (step 420), it may provide the aggregated account touser 101 (step 430). In one embodiment, financial service provider 110may provide the aggregated account in the form of an electronic accountthat can be used online for online purchases with any merchants that areassociated with the aggregated account (e.g., merchants 150A and 150B).The aggregated account may be configured such that it can only be usedfor transactions with the specific merchants associated with theaggregated account. In another embodiment, financial service provider110 may generate and provide a physical financial service account cardthat is usable at locations for merchants associated with the aggregatedaccount (e.g., brick and mortar locations for merchants 150A and 150B).Financial service provider 110 may provide the aggregated accountdirectly to user 101. In some aspects, the account may be provided via anotification (e.g., email, text, link to web page, etc.) includinginformation with brand labels associated with merchants 150A or merchant150B, or both. Any physical financial service account cards may also bebranded with information associated with merchants 150A and 150B (e.g.,the card may include logos for merchant 150A and/or merchant 150B). Inother embodiments, financial service provider 110 may issue a separatefinancial service account card for merchant 150A and merchant 150B.Thus, in one example, user 101 may receive one financial service cardfor use with merchant 150B and a separate financial service card for usewith merchant 150A. Logically, however, financial service account 110may relate any purchases using the separate cards, which may be notifiedby merchants 150A and 150B, with the single aggregated account. In thisexample, user 101 may hold two separate financial service account cards(one for merchant 150A and one for merchant 150B), but transactions andother financial account management services associated with the twocards are processed by financial service account provider 110 as singleaggregated account.

In other embodiments, merchant 150A may be configured to providenotification of the aggregated account to user 101 (via, for example,server 151A and client 120). Similarly, merchant 150B may be configuredto provide notification of the aggregated account to user 101 (via, forexample, server 151B and client 120). The notification may includeinformation that informs user 101 that the private label account formerchant 150A has been approved, information describing one or more ofthe parameters for the private label merchant account, etc.

The disclosed embodiments also provide processes that allow an existingprivate label financial service account to be configured as anaggregated account that may be used to purchase goods and/or servicesfrom more than one merchant 150. For example, the disclosed embodimentsmay generate and provide a private label merchant account for user 101for merchant 150A in a manner consistent with the operations describedabove. Sometime later, user 101 may apply for another private labelmerchant account from merchant 150B. In this example, merchant 150B andmerchant 150A may have an agreement that allows financial serviceprovider 110 to aggregate private label accounts with certain othermerchants, such as merchants 150A and 150B. For example, merchant 150Amay be a merchant that provides coffee (e.g., a coffee shop) andmerchant B may be a retailer that sells coffee making appliances (e.g.,a home goods store). These exemplary merchants may negotiate and agreeto arrangements where financial service provider 110 processes andmanages financial service accounts on behalf of the merchants. Inexchange, the merchants allow the financial service provider 110 togenerate aggregated financial accounts for user 101 that is usable atthe partnered merchant sites in a manner consistent with the disclosedembodiments. Thus, in this example, financial service provider 110 mayprovide a replacement card to user 101 that is usable by user at the twoexemplary merchant sites (e.g., merchant A coffee shop and merchant Bhome goods store). The replacement card may include branded labelsassociated with the two exemplary merchants. Alternatively, thedisclosed embodiments may not replace an existing card held by the user(e.g., coffee shop card), but instead may notify the user (via client120 or other means) that the existing card is now usable at the othermerchant (e.g., the home goods store).

FIG. 8 shows a block diagram of system 800 that may be used to performprivate label financial card processes consistent with certain disclosedembodiments. As explained, user 101 may use client 120 to access a website provided by merchant 150A (via, for example server 151A or otherserver) to apply for a private label merchant account. Client 120 may,based on input from user 101, issue a request 820 for applying for theaccount. In response, server 151A (or another server) may provide client120 with an interface 810 that is branded with merchant A information(e.g., merchant A logos, text, graphics, etc.). Interface 810 mayinclude content 802, 804, and 806 that may include advertisements, linksto one or more services offered by merchant 150A, financial serviceprovider 110, or other entities. Interface 810 may include an interface808 that enables user 101 to enter information for applying for themerchant A private label card.

In another embodiment, instead of merchant 150A providing interface 810,merchant 150A may forward the request 820 to financial service provider110 via request 822. Request 822 may be a new request generated byserver 151A that includes information relating to user 101 and/or client120 such that other components may communicate with client 120. Inresponse to request 822, financial service provider 110 may generateinformation used for applying for the new merchant A private labelaccount. In one aspect, financial service provider 110 (e.g., via server111) may send a request to 824 to a server 115 that may be configured togenerate content (e.g., in the form of a web page or similar onlinelocation) that is provided to client 120 via communication 826. In thisexample, server 115 may generate interface 810 with the brandedinformation associated with merchant A. Server 115 may be remote tofinancial service provider 110 or may be included with financial serviceprovider 110. Thus, in certain embodiments, financial service provider110 may perform back-end processes that generate and provideinterface(s) (such as interface 810) to client 120 that have a look andfeel as if they originated from merchant 150A, but are actually providedby financial service provider 110 (via server 111 and/or server 115).

The process flow associated with FIG. 8 may also be followed to allowuser 101 to manage the merchant A private label account. For example,the disclosed embodiments may allow user 101 to perform online accountmanagement functions associated with the merchant A private labelaccount held by user 101. In one example, user 101 may use client 120 toaccess a website associated with merchant 150A to perform accountmanagement functions. The web site may have an address affiliated withmerchant 150A (e.g., www.merchantA/privatelabelaccountmanagement/), butis provided by financial service provider 110 via server 115. Financialservice account 110 may provide interface(s) that user 101 may use (viaclient 120) to perform different account functions, such as payingbills, reviewing statements, etc. The interface may be branded as amerchant A interface. FIG. 9 shows an exemplary interface 900 that maybe provided by financial service provider 110 that includes contentassociated with merchant A.

The disclosed embodiments may allow similar processes to be performedfor merchant B private label accounts. FIG. 10 shows a block diagram ofan exemplary system 1000 that may be used to perform private labelfinancial card processes consistent with certain disclosed embodiments.As explained, user 101 may use client 120 to access a web site providedby merchant 150B (e.g., via server 151B or other server) to apply for aprivate label merchant account. Client 120 may, based on input from user101, issue a request 1020 for applying for the account. In response,server 1518 (or another server) may provide client 120 with an interface1010 that is branded with merchant B information (e.g., merchant Blogos, text, graphics, etc.). Interface 1010 may include content 1002,1004, and 1006 that may include advertisements, links to one or moreservices offered by merchant 150B, financial service provider 110, orother entities. Interface 1010 may include an interface 1008 thatenables user 101 to enter information for applying for the merchant Aprivate label card.

In another embodiment, instead of merchant 150B providing interface1010, merchant 150B may forward the request 1020 to financial serviceprovider 110 via request 1022. Request 1022 may be a new requestgenerated by server 151B that includes information relating to user 101and/or client 120 such that other components may communicate with client120. In response to request 1022, financial service provider 110 maygenerate information used for applying for the new merchant A privatelabel account. In one aspect, financial service provider 110 (e.g., viaserver 111) may send a request to 1024 to a server 115 that may beconfigured to generate content (e.g., in the form of a web page orsimilar online location) that is provided to client 120 viacommunication 1026. In this example, server 115 may generate interface1010 with the branded information associated with merchant B. Server 115may be remote to financial service provider 110 or may be included withfinancial service provider 110. Thus, in certain embodiments, financialservice provider 110 may perform back end processes that generate andprovide interface(s) (such as interface 1010) to client 120 that have alook and feel as if they originated from merchant 150B, but are actuallyprovided by financial service provider 110 (via server 111 and/or server115).

The process flow associated with FIG. 10 may also be followed to allowuser 101 to manage the merchant B private label account. For example,the disclosed embodiments may allow user 101 to perform online accountmanagement functions associated with the merchant B private labelaccount held by user 101. In one example, user 101 may use client 120 toaccess a website associated with merchant 150B to perform accountmanagement functions. The web site may have an address affiliated withmerchant 150B (e.g., www.merchantB/privatelabel accountmanagement/), butis provided by financial service provider 110 via server 115. Financialservice account 110 may provide interface(s) that user 101 may use (viaclient 120) to perform different account functions, such as payingbills, reviewing statements, etc. The interface may be branded as amerchant B interface.

FIG. 11 shows a block diagram of an exemplary system 1100 that may beused to perform private label financial card processes consistent withcertain disclosed embodiments. In certain aspects, user 101 may useclient 120 to access a web site provided by financial service provider110 (e.g., via server 111, server 115, or other servers) to apply and/ormanage an aggregated financial service account associated with privatelabel merchant accounts. In one example, client 120 may, based on inputfrom user 101, issue a request 1120 for applying for the aggregatedaccount. In response, server 115 (or another server) may forward theuser input information via communication 1150 to financial serviceprovider 110. Financial service provider 110 may perform approvalprocesses or account management processes consistent with the disclosedembodiments. Financial service provider 110 may use server 115 togenerate and provide interface(s), such as interface 1110, to client 120for receiving and providing information relating to the aggregatedaccount. In one aspect, server 115 may provide client 120 with aninterface 1110 that is branded with financial service provider 110information (e.g., logos, text, graphics, etc.) and/or with informationassociated with merchant A and/or merchant B. Interface 1110 may includecontent 1102, 1104, and 1106 that may include advertisements, links toone or more services offered by financial service provider 110, or otherentities, such as merchant 150A and/or merchant 150B. Interface 1110 mayinclude an interface 1108 that enables user 101 to enter information forapplying or requesting information relating to an aggregated financialservice account consistent with the disclosed embodiments.

Server 115 may be remote to financial service provider 110 or may beincluded with financial service provider 110. Thus, in certainembodiments, financial service provider 110 may perform back endprocesses that generate and provide interface(s) (such as interface1110) to client 120 that have a look and feel as if they originated fromfinancial service provider 1110, merchant 150A, merchant 150B, or acombination of these.

The process flow associated with FIG. 10 may also be followed to allowuser 101 to manage the merchant B private label account. For example,the disclosed embodiments may allow user 101 to perform online accountmanagement functions associated with the merchant B private labelaccount held by user 101. In one example, user 101 may use client 120 toaccess a website associated with merchant 150B to perform accountmanagement functions. The web site may have an address affiliated withmerchant 150B (e.g., merchantB/privatelabel accountmanagement/), but isprovided by financial service provider 110 via server 115. Financialservice account 110 may provide interface(s) that user 101 may use (viaclient 120) to perform different account functions, such as payingbills, reviewing statements, etc. The interface may be branded as amerchant B interface.

As explained, aspects of the disclosed embodiments provide an aggregatedaccount associated with multiple private label financial accounts. Incertain aspects, financial service provider 110 (via server 111, server115, both, or other server(s)) may provide a central location for user101 to manage multiple private label financial accounts via anaggregated account provided by financial service provider 110. FIG. 12shows an exemplary interface 1200 that may be provided by financialservice provider 110 consistent with an aggregated account provided bycertain disclosed embodiments. Interface 1200 may include, as anexample, content including data associated with merchant A financialservice account, data associated with merchant B financial serviceaccount, and financial service provider account data. Other content mayalso be provided in interface 1200, such as advertisements, links,graphics, text, etc. associated with merchant A, merchant B, and/orfinancial service provider 110.

FIG. 13 shows another exemplary interface 1300 that may be provided byfinancial service provider 110 consistent with an aggregated accountprovided by certain disclosed embodiments. Interface 1300 may include,as an example, content including data associated with an aggregatedfinancial service account provided by financial service account provider110 consistent with disclosed embodiments. Interface 1300 may includeinterfaces that are dynamically generated based on different types ofaccount management functions, such as billing, statement review, accountreward tracking, etc.

As explained, in certain aspects, the disclosed embodiments allow user101 to manage private label accounts for different merchants. Merchants150A and 150B may collaborate with financial service provider 110 toallow financial service account 110 to generate and provide interfaceson behalf of merchants 150A and 150B for managing respective privatelabel accounts. Thus, merchant 150A, for example, may advertise onlinebanking services for its merchant A private label accounts withouthaving to provide the backend processes for maintaining and managingsuch accounts. Instead, financial service provider 110 may generate andprovide online locations that user 101 may access (via client 120) thatare branded as merchant A locations.

FIG. 14 shows a flowchart of an exemplary account management processconsistent with certain disclosed embodiments. In step 1410, merchant150A (via server 151A) may receive a request from user 101 for managinga merchant A private label account held by user 101. In one aspect,client 120 may send the request to server 151A over network 140. Forinstance, merchant 150A may provide a web site that offers servicesassociated with the business affiliated with merchant 150A. The web sitemay include a link that, when selected by user 101 via client 120,redirects user 101 to a web site provided by financial service provider110 (via, for example, server 115). Step 1410 may also reflect the stepof financial service provider 110 receiving a request from merchant 150Afor managing the merchant A private label account.

In step 1420, financial service provider 110 may process the userrequest for managing the merchant A private label financial account.Processing the account may include determining what operations user 101is requesting to do based on input or selections by user 101 on aninterface provided via client 120. In certain aspects, depending on thepreferences of user 101, financial service account provider 110 mayprovide one or more interface(s) over network 140 to client 120 fordisplay to user 101 (step 1430). Financial service account provider 110may configure the interface(s) with a look and feel associated withmerchant A. For example, user 101 may use the disclosed embodiments tomake payments toward a balance on merchant A private label account. Inthese aspects, financial service provider 110 may generate merchant Abranded interface(s) that allow user to make online payments toward themerchant A financial service account. Financial service account provider110 processes the payment and edits the information associated with themerchant A subaccount associated with user 101's aggregated account.

In similar fashion, user 101 may use client 120 to access a web siteprovided by merchant 150B. In step 1440, merchant 150B (via server 151B)may receive a request from user 101 for managing a merchant B privatelabel account held by user 101. In one aspect, client 120 may send therequest to server 151B over network 140. For instance, merchant 150B mayprovide a web site that offers services associated with the businessaffiliated with merchant 150B. The web site may include a link that,when selected by user 101 via client 120, redirects user 101 to a website provided by financial service provider 110 (e.g., via server 115).Step 1440 may also reflect the step of financial service provider 110receiving a request from merchant 150B for managing the merchant Aprivate label account.

In step 1450, financial service provider 110 may process the userrequest for managing the merchant B private label financial account.Processing the account may include determining what operations user 101is requesting to do based on input or selections by user 101 on aninterface provided via client 120. In certain aspects, depending on thepreferences of user 101, financial service account provider 110 mayprovide one or more interface(s) over network 140 to client 120 fordisplay to user 101 (step 1460). Financial service account provider 110may configure the interface(s) with a look and feel associated withmerchant B. For example, user 101 may use the disclosed embodiments tomake payments toward a balance on merchant B private label account. Inthese aspects, financial service provider 110 may generate merchant Bbranded interface(s) that allow user to make online payments toward themerchant B financial service account. Financial service account provider110 processes the payment and edits the information associated with themerchant B subaccount associated with user 101's aggregated account.

In certain embodiments, financial service provider 110 may provide anaggregated account that is configured based on one or more parametersassociated with one or more private label financial accounts. Forinstance, as discussed above, financial service provider 110 may createan aggregated financial service account that is based on private labelaccounts from merchant 150A and merchant 150B. Financial serviceprovider 110 may be configured to execute software that allows theparameters to be dynamically adjusted based on private label merchantaccounts added for user 101. Aspects of the disclosed embodiments alsoprovide a central means for managing multiple private label accounts.

FIG. 15 shows a flowchart of an exemplary aggregated account managementprocess consistent with certain embodiments. In step 1510, financialservice account 110 (e.g., via server 111) may receive a request tomanage an aggregated account. The request may come from client 120 overnetwork 140. In other embodiments, merchant 150A or merchant 150B mayprovide a link on their branded web site to access the aggregatedaccount management functions offered by financial service provider 110.

Based on the request, financial service provider 110 (via server 111,server 115, both, or another server) may generate an aggregated accountinterface (step 1520). In one aspect, the aggregated account interfacemay include content such as that described above in connection with FIG.13. Financial service provider 110 (via server 111, server 115, both, oranother server) may generate the aggregated account interface to includeoptions for managing the aggregated account. For example, the interfacemay include an option for user 101 to make a payment on the account. Incertain aspect, financial service provider 110 may execute softwareprocesses that allow user 101 to make a single payment that iscontributed toward multiple private label financial accounts. Forexample, financial service provider 110 may receive input regarding anaggregated account (step 1530). Based on the input, financial serviceprovider 110 may process user 101's input in accordance with theaggregated account parameters (step 1540). For instance, user 101'sinput may reflect a desire to make a payment toward a balance associatedwith merchant A private label account. In embodiments where financialservice account 110 provides a single aggregated account thatencompasses both merchant A and merchant B private label accounts,financial service provider 110 may process the user 101's payment suchthat the balance for both private label accounts are adjusted. Forexample, a user 101's $100 payment may be split between the balanceassociated with both merchant A and merchant B's sub-accounts associatedwith the aggregated account. In other aspects, financial serviceprovider 110 may apply the payment to a single balance parameterassociated with the aggregated financial account. In this way, user 101need only make payments on a single account that effectively cover twoprivate label accounts.

The disclosed embodiments also provide advantages from a creditassessment perspective. In one aspect, financial service provider 110may provide an aggregated account process that generates a single creditbureau facing credit account that is based on multiple private labelaccounts. Thus, the credit exposure to user 101 is reduced through useof an aggregated financial account provided by the disclosedembodiments. For instance, FIG. 16 shows a flowchart of an exemplarycredit check processing process consistent with certain disclosedembodiments. In step 1610, financial service provider 110 may receive arequest for credit check information relating to user 101. The requestmay originate from credit assessor 160 or from another entity or device.In response, financial service account provider 110 may generate acredit check response associated with user 101 (Step 1620). The usercredit check response may include information reflecting a singleaccount held by user 101 for purposes for assessing credit exposure,despite financial service provider 110 providing an aggregated accountreflecting multiple private label financial accounts. Financial serviceprovider 110 may provide the user credit check response (step 1630) tothe requesting entity or component (e.g., credit assessor 160) overnetwork 140 or other communication means. Thus, in certain aspects, thedisclosed embodiments a credit check from a credit bureau (e.g., creditassessor 160) may only be performed once, even if a user applies forseveral private label financial service accounts that may be aggregatedinto a single financial service account in accordance with the disclosedembodiments.

Other embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art fromconsideration of the specification and practice of the disclosedembodiments. It is intended that the specification and examples beconsidered as exemplary only, with a true scope and spirit of thedisclosed embodiments being indicated by the following claims. Forexample, the disclosed embodiments are applicable to any type offinancial account, such as, for example: private label/store creditfinancial accounts, but also private label debit, gift, prepaid, andother stored value accounts (e.g., rewards/loyalty points). Let's alsobe exhaustive in “credit” as this can include: promotional financing,long term financing, transactional credit, and installment loans.Further, the disclosed embodiments are agnostic to the form factor forthe financial service accounts disclosed herein, and the means forauthenticating those accounts, e.g., plastic card, mini-card, RFID tags,mobile payments (NFC, QR/barcode), online/remote transactions, biometricauthentication, etc.

In addition, the disclosed embodiments may be configured to enable thefinancial service accounts (e.g., aggregated accounts, private labelaccounts, etc.) to be managed within single wallet, several wallets, orseparate web/mobile applications. For example, the disclosed embodimentsmay be configured to provide a wallet or collection of allets/apps toprovide a communication platform for merchant-to-consumer messaging,such as, for example, deals, discounts, promotions, brand marketing,and/or targeted marketing. Further, the disclosed embodiments may beconfigured to generate such messaging (via, e.g., server 111, server151, or a combination of both). In one aspect, the disclosed embodimentsmay provide such messaging such that they can be targeted based ontransaction data at all or a subset of participating merchants. Thedisclosed embodiments may be configured to provide targeting messagingthat is informed by general purpose card spending by a consumer usingthe aggregated financial service accounts consistent with the disclosedembodiments. In other aspects, the disclosed embodiments may beconfigured to generate and provide messages based on real-time paymentsactivity (e.g., generating and providing notifications immediately aftercheckout using an aggregated financial service account consistent withthe disclosed embodiments). In other aspects, the disclosed embodimentsmay be configured to generate and provide follow-on recommendationsmessages, or generate and provide offers to users of the disclosedaggregated financial service accounts based on location/location-basedcheck-ins, etc. (e.g., location of client 120, user 101, or both).

In addition, the disclosed embodiments may be configured to provideadditional messaging and communications based on transaction data,product data (e.g., SKU data), inventory data, etc. relating to purchasetransactions performed using the aggregated financial service accountconsistent with the disclosed embodiments. For example, the disclosedembodiments may be configured to generate and provide product-levelmessaging based on product data (e.g., SKU data) associated withpurchase transactions made by a user with an aggregated financialservice account consistent with the disclosed embodiments.

Further, the disclosed embodiments may be configured to provide aplatform for product manufacturer communications and marketing. Forinstance, product manufacturers and brands (e.g., Nike, Levi's) may usethe platform to send targeted communications and marketing messages tothe user (e.g., promotions, local offers, group deals, brandcommunications, review requests, post-purchase messages, new productsuggestions, event or group invitations, or any other messages promotingthe brand or its products, or any other messages promoting the brand orproducts of affiliated manufacturers or brands). These messages may bebased on, e.g., the user's transaction data, product reviews, location,merchant affiliations, etc. The user may also send messages (e.g.,requests, reviews, comments, etc,) to the product manufacturers andbrands, either by responding to their messages, or by initiating themessaging themselves.

What is claimed is:
 1. A system for providing an aggregated financialservice account, comprising: one or more memory devices storing softwareinstructions; and one or more processors configured to execute thesoftware instructions to: receive a first request from a user for afirst private label financial account that is usable for purchasesassociated with a first merchant, approve the first request for thefirst private label financial account, receive a request from the userfor a second private label financial account that is usable forpurchases associated with a second merchant, approve the second requestfor the second private label financial account, and generate anaggregated financial account based on the first and second private labelaccounts such that the aggregated financial account may be used forpurchases with the first merchant or with the second merchant.
 2. Thesystem of claim 1, wherein the one or more processors are furtherconfigured to: receive a request to perform a task associated with thefirst private label financial account; and generate an interface toallow the task to be performed on the first private label financialaccount.
 3. The system of claim 2, wherein the task is providing paymenttoward a balance associated with the first private label financialaccount.
 4. The system of claim 3 wherein the one or more processors areconfigured to adjust a balance parameter of the aggregated financialaccount based on the payment associated with the first private labelfinancial account.
 5. The system of claim 4, wherein the one or moreprocessors are further configured to: receive a request to perform asecond task associated with the second private label financial account;and generate an interface to allow the second task to be performed onthe second private label financial account.
 6. The system of claim 5,wherein the second task is providing payment toward a balance associatedwith the second private label financial account and wherein the one ormore processors are configured to adjust the balance parameter of theaggregated financial account based on the payment associated with thesecond private label financial account.
 7. A system for providing anaggregated financial service account, comprising: one or more memorydevices storing software instructions; and one or ore processorsconfigured to execute the software instructions to: receive a requestfor credit information for a user having a first private label financialaccount and a second private label financial account, generate a creditcheck response associated with a single aggregated account for the user,the aggregated account being associated with the first and secondprivate label financial accounts, and providing the credit checkresponse such that the response reflects that the user has a singlefinancial account based on the first and second private label financialaccounts.
 8. The system of claim 7, wherein the aggregated account isprovided by a financial service provider and the one or more processorsare further configured to receive the request for credit informationfrom a credit bureau that is performing a credit check assessment forthe user, wherein the credit bureau performs a single credit checkassessment for the user in association with the financial serviceprovider regardless of the number of private label financial accountsthat are associated with the aggregated account.
 9. Acomputer-implemented method for providing an aggregated financialservice account, comprising: receiving a first request from a user for afirst private label financial account that is usable for purchasesassociated with a first merchant, approving, by one or more processors,the first request for the first private label financial account,receiving, by the one or more processors, a request from the user for asecond private label financial account that is usable for purchasesassociated with a second merchant, approving, by the one or moreprocessors, the second request for the second private label financialaccount, and generating, by the one or more processors, an aggregatedfinancial account based on the first and second private label accountssuch that the aggregated financial account may be used for purchaseswith the first merchant or with the second merchant.
 10. The method ofclaim 9, further comprising: receiving a request to perform a taskassociated with the first private label financial account; andgenerating, by the one or more processors, an interface to allow thetask to be performed on the first private label financial account. 11.The method of claim 10, wherein receiving a request to perform the taskassociated with the first private label financial account furthercomprises: receiving a request to provide payment toward a balanceassociated with the first private label financial account.
 12. Themethod of claim 11, further comprising: adjusting a balance parameter ofthe aggregated financial account based on the payment associated withthe first private label financial account.
 13. The method of claim 12,further comprising: receiving a request to perform a second taskassociated with the second private label financial account; andgenerating, by the one or more processors, an interface to allow thesecond task to be performed on the second private label financialaccount.
 14. The method of claim 13, wherein the second task isproviding payment toward a balance associated with the second privatelabel financial account and wherein the method further comprisesadjusting the balance parameter of the aggregated financial accountbased on the payment associated with the second private label financialaccount.
 15. A computer-implemented method for providing an aggregatedfinancial service account, comprising: receiving a request for creditinformation for a user having a first private label financial accountand a second private label financial account; generating, by one or moreprocessors, a credit check response associated with a single aggregatedaccount for the user, the aggregated account being associated with thefirst and second private label financial accounts; and providing, by theone or more processors, the credit check response such that the responsereflects that the user has a single financial account based on the firstand second private label financial accounts.
 16. The method of claim 15,wherein the aggregated account provided by a financial service providerand the method further comprising receiving the request for creditinformation from a credit bureau that is performing a credit checkassessment for the user, wherein the credit bureau performs a singlecredit check assessment for the user in association with the financialservice provider regardless of the number of private label financialaccounts that are associated with the aggregated account.
 17. A tangiblecomputer readable medium including instructions that when executed byone or more processors perform a method for providing an aggregatedfinancial service account, the method comprising: receiving a requestfor credit information for a user having a first private label financialaccount and a second private label financial account; generating, by oneor more processors, a credit check response associated with a singleaggregated account for the user, the aggregated account being associatedwith the first and second private label financial accounts; andproviding, by the one or more processors, the credit check response suchthat the response reflects that the user has a single financial accountbased on the first and second private label financial accounts.
 18. Thecomputer-readable medium of claim 17, wherein the aggregated account isprovided by a financial service provider and wherein the method furthercomprising receiving the request for credit information from a creditbureau that is performing a credit check assessment for the user,wherein the credit bureau performs a single credit check assessment forthe user in association with the financial service provider regardlessof the number of private label financial accounts that are associatedwith the aggregated account.